I am SUCH a happy girl today! (doing my crazy, happy dance)
I finished my hooded cape last night! YIPPEE!!!!
The front:
The back:
Pattern: Side Button Hooded Cape
Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky in Fern
I’m VERY pleased with how it turned out. The big wooden buttons on the side really finish it off well. I have also added a big button on the front, where the neckline separates, just to give it some support. I think it dresses it up nicely. 
When I completed all the seaming and finishing, I put on the cape, and walked down the hall to show it to my hubby. His mouth dropped open, and he said, “Wow! That looks great!” I was so proud. It sure is nice to have a supportive husband for my crafting pursuits. He never complains about all the yarn I buy, and always takes an interest in whatever I’m making. How did I get so blessed?! (I wasn’t so lucky with my first husband.)
Now, I’ll be warm and comfy, wearing my cape at the fiber festival next weekend. Can’t wait! If you’ve never been to a fiber festival, you really should check one out. Just do a search on the internet for festivals in your area, and make plans to go. I go every year, and REALLY enjoy myself. Yarn, spinning wheels, sheep, angora rabbits, alpaca, llamas, and lots of knitters, crocheters, spinners and fiber artists. It’s a blast!
While I was working on my cape, I did come across one issue. The error happened at the center back section of the hood. After knitting a few rows, I noticed that the design was not matching up – everything was off by one stitch:
So, I decided to just make a correction, and live with the error on that one inch of fabric. Besides, it will be underneath the hood most of the time.
To fix my mistake, I did an increase at one end of that section, and a decrease at the other end. Now, everything is back in line again.
I’m not sure how the mistake happened. Maybe it’s the way the stitches are arranged when you finish knitting the back. Oh well….I’m living with the error just fine. My life continues, and I’m still smiling. We’ll just call that mistake a “design element”. Ha!!
Since I finished my cape, I decided to have my usual completion party. WOO HOO!!! I made myself a mug of hot cocoa, a nice cup of hot tea, with a cookie and some chocolates. My treat was very yummy, and my party was made complete by viewing some nice knitting magazines.
Do I know how to party like a knitter or WHAT? 
Now, I’m ready to get started on the Bernat Star Afghan! Yay!!
- Shandeh
Congratulations! It is beautiful! I have not finished mine yet but you have given me the incentive to finish my cape!
)
Thank you for sharing! I am sure you will be wearing it alot!
Good luck with your cape! What color are you making yours?
I am making the cape for my daughter for her birthday in February. It will be black, will send pics when I am done!:)
That turned out wonderfully. I couldn’t picture what you were making as I followed your progress. Wow, terrific work.
You’re not the only one that couldn’t picture what it would be. When I took it to the knitting group, none of them could figure it out either. Ha!
I’ll wear the cape to our next knit-together, to see how they all react.
Your cape is absolutely beautiful! Great job!
Thank you for the kind compliments!
I LOVE my new cape! So comfy, and easy to wear. I keep it in my car, so I can throw it on when I’m out driving to teach piano lessons. It’s perfect for Fall weather.
I made the cape an inch shorter than the directions specified, because I’m short. I was afraid it would make me look like a little girl if I made it any longer. I’m very pleased with the way it looks.
I like your approach when you discover an oops in your work: first figure out if anyone will see it, and then take the most expedient approach. Sometimes that is the best thing to do.
I like to tell my students that if someone comes up to you and says that you made a mistake here, she is not your friend!
That being said, today I uncovered a mistake in one of my projects, and undid a few rows – fortunately it was a crochet project. But it was important to me to do it right – because, like you, my projects become the subject for my own blog!
Judy
Good advice to your students! I agree completely that people who point out mistakes are just sour grapes. (I need to remember that myself when I give my hubby a hard time about things he does wrong.)
Congrats on finishing your cape! It looks great. I hope you have fun while wearing it at the fiber festival you’re attending next weekend. I like how you worked around the “design element” of the hood in order to accept the mistake and move on. I noticed in your completion party snacks that your cookie even appears to be smiling. How cute!
You noticed my smiling cookie!
I think those cookies are so cute…they are the Little Debbie pumpkin cookies. Love those little smilies.
Your cape looks great Sandy! And I’m sure its very warm and soft–love the Softee Chunky.
And I think your end-of-project ritual is a neat way to reward all your hard work.
Thanks Dina!
I’m very proud of the cape, and it’s so comfy and warm to wear. That Softee Chunky yarn is EASY to knit with, and makes a wonderful, cushy fabric.
My reward party is always fun!
WOW! your cape turned out great!!! I just looked the pattern up online and was so pleased to see the great size range…another thing for my crafting “to do” list
Karen
Isn’t it wonderful to see so many patterns in lots of sizes on the Bernat website? Yay!!
I am still knitting my cape and was wondering what side is the right side of the work and which is the wrong. Can you help me out.
Thanks,
Peggy
Hi Peggy!
I think that BOTH sides look great, don’t you? I chose to make the smoother side the “right side”, as they do on the Bernat website. But the other side would work just as well as the right side. So, just pick the side you like, and make your cape your own!
Hello Sandy,
I’m making the same cape you did and I would like to have your advice. In the “shape shoulders”, it’s written cast of 8 sts beg next 8 rows, then 7 sts beg following 2 rows. Leave rem 33 sts on a st holder.
Does that mean that I cast off 8 sts per row for the next 8 rows and then 7 for the next 2 rows? Should I have 33 sts when I’m finished? I’m at the beginning so I’m doing the back.
Thank you for helping me. I would really appreciate it.
Jojos from Québec, Canada
Yes, you will cast off 8 sts at the beginning of the next 8 rows. Next, you will cast off 7 sts at the beginning of the next 2 rows. Good luck with your cape!
Thank you very much.